Bielsa makes perfect start at Lille & the world rejoices El Loco is back in football

Mentor, master and brilliant manager – Bielsa is the one of the great thinkers of the beautiful game and leading a new project at Lille

Lille may not have been the obvious choice when it was announced that Marcelo Bielsa was taking over as manager but nothing that El Loco does is really orthodox and while Les Dogues already appear to be reaping the rewards working under the stewardship of one of world football’s greatest minds, the rest of us can sit back, content that the master is back doing what he does best.

This set of players at Lille are certainly not the most talented that Bielsa has had at his disposal but after some astute signings and a good preseason, all the hallmarks of a system that bears his name and is reproduced by some of the best coaches in the modern game, were clear in the impressive opening weekend victory against Nantes – the intense high-press, the flexibility in formations and the snappy, dynamic passing.

Claudio Ranieri’s Nantes couldn’t cope and the 3-0 eventual scoreline was probably flattering on the visitors, providing reason for genuine optimism and excitement at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy this season.